Sink unblocking in Belgium
With a sink or basin the cause usually sits close to the waste outlet: congealed fat in the kitchen, toothpaste and soap in the bathroom, or hair in a shower gully. Water first stands a little longer, then barely drains at all and an odour appears. Because the restriction is nearly always within reach, we choose to dismantle and clean: the trap comes apart, the build-up leaves, and the full bore is back.
- Final price given before we start
- Up to 2 years warranty on labour
- Emergency line available 24/7
- Direct phone contact: +32 2 000 00 00
Our approach
From the trap to the wall pipe
We work back along the waste in order: the trap first, then the pipe, until the full diameter is back.
- 01
Trap check
We start at the trap under the sink, the most common collection point, and establish whether it is the only cause or whether the pipe downstream is fouled too.
- 02
Pipe diagnosis
We work out how far the grease has built up along the wall pipe. That avoids cleaning only the trap while the real blockage sits further along.
- 03
Degreasing the pipe
Depending on the build-up: mechanical cleaning or high-pressure flushing to lift the grease off the pipe wall and give the run back its original diameter.
- 04
Prevention advice
We share the habits that matter (never pour fats down the sink, fit a strainer) and, for busy kitchens, a maintenance schedule.
Sinks, basins and traps
Every bowl has its weak point
A kitchen sink, a stainless double bowl, a cloakroom basin or a designer vessel do not foul up in quite the same way. In the kitchen it is cooking fats and food residue that set in the trap and then in the pipe. In the bathroom the culprit is more often the mix of soap, toothpaste and hair that catches at the plughole. What they share is the trap, that U-bend fitted under the bowl to hold back smells, and, unfortunately, everything that goes down with the water.
The fittings vary too: a classic trap with a screw-off base, a shallow trap for low cabinets, or a space-saving trap tucked behind a drawer. Some come apart in seconds, others mean emptying the cabinet and protecting the floor. A double sink often shares a single trap, which is why one bowl empties into the other once the passage narrows. We read your configuration before we act, so nothing is forced and nothing is broken.
That precise reading of the fitting lets us choose between a simple strip-and-clean and a deeper degreasing of the pipe. In a bathroom we stay careful with seals and delicate surfaces; in a busy kitchen we go after the grease layer that has settled deep inside. The goal is the same everywhere: give your waste pipe its full diameter back, not punch a hole that closes at the next wash-up.
How the blockage forms
Grease, the kitchen's main enemy
Coming out of the pan, oils and fats are still liquid. Once inside the cooler pipe they set and cling to the walls. Every wash-up adds a thin layer; food scraps and coffee grounds stick to it, and the usable diameter shrinks until nothing gets through.
That is why a sink rarely blocks all at once: the flow slows first, the water takes longer to go down, then it stands. At that stage, pouring in a product usually just pushes the deposit further into the network.
Our approach targets the layer of grease itself: we take it out of the trap and the pipe to restore the full diameter, rather than simply punching a channel that will close up again quickly.
Warning signs
Spotting a sink that is blocking up
Grease does not block a sink overnight: the flow degrades gradually. These signs mean it is time to act, before it stops altogether.
- The water takes longer and longer to drain after washing up.
- A pool sits in the bottom of the sink and then goes down slowly.
- Gurgling comes back up as the water drains.
- A sour or musty smell rises from the plughole.
- The dishwasher backs up into the sink next to it.
- One half of the double bowl empties into the other.
Until we arrive
What to do before we come round
In the meantime, keep it from getting worse and avoid the products that only move the deposit further into the network.
- 01
Stop using the sink
Pour no more water or scraps into it: a full bowl makes access harder and risks overflowing.
- 02
Bail out the standing water
Empty the bowl with a container so we can work dry and reach the plughole.
- 03
Forget boiling water
On a settled deposit it softens the grease for a moment before it sets again further along.
- 04
No chemical drain cleaner
It attacks seals and pipework without dissolving set grease. Call us for a proper degrease.
Transparent pricing
What determines the price
Our call-outs start from €63.60 incl. VAT (6 % for homes over 10 years old, otherwise 21 %).
Unblocking a sink should never come with a surprise invoice. The price depends on concrete things: where the blockage sits, how hard the trap is to reach and the method needed to take the grease out. A simple strip-down under the bowl is not the same work as high-pressure degreasing of the wall pipe. We assess the situation with you, then give you an estimate before we begin, not once the work is finished.
That clarity covers the unexpected too. If we find the pipe is fouled well beyond the trap, we talk to you before going further: you decide with the facts in hand, without feeling committed to a figure you never approved. No job starts without your agreement on the price.
Want a ballpark before you even call? Get in touch directly: we answer price questions directly and tailor the quote to your sink, your basin and your installation.
Benefits
- Grease removed, not merely punctured
- Trap taken apart and refitted cleanly
- Scheduled maintenance for busy kitchens
- Clean job, cabinet and floor protected
Equipment & techniques
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Question not on the list? We answer it by phone, no obligation.
+32 2 000 00 00How much does sink unblocking cost?
Our call-outs start from €63.60 incl. VAT (6 % for homes over 10 years old, otherwise 21 %). The price depends on concrete things: where the blockage sits, how hard the trap is to reach and the method needed to take the grease out.
Why is my kitchen sink draining more and more slowly?
That is the classic sign of gradual fouling by grease. During cooking, liquid oils and fats cool inside the pipe and set on the walls. Layer after layer, the passage narrows until the water barely drains at all. A slowing flow is a warning: better to act before the blockage is complete.
Does boiling water or soda crystals work?
On a light, very recent deposit, sometimes. On a settled layer, boiling water only softens the grease for a moment: it sets again a few metres further along, often somewhere less accessible. Soda crystals, meanwhile, attack seals and older pipework without dissolving compacted grease.
Is the trap enough, or do you need to go further?
The trap is the most common collection point, but not always the only one. If the water is still slow after cleaning it, the wall pipe downstream is fouled. That is exactly what we check before refitting: cleaning only the trap when the blockage sits further along guarantees a quick repeat.
How do I stop the sink blocking again?
Never pour cooking oils and fats down the sink: let them set and bin them. Fit a strainer over the plughole to catch residue, and run hot water after a greasy wash-up. In a busy kitchen, periodic degreasing remains the most effective prevention.
Do you also cover restaurant kitchens?
Yes. Professional kitchens produce far more grease and foul their pipes much faster. We handle both emergency call-outs and planned maintenance, outside service hours if needed, and we also clear the whole run through to the grease trap.
When should you call a drain technician straight away?
Some signs mean the blockage is no longer local: waste water backing up into a shower, sink or toilet, several fixtures draining slowly at the same time, water rising from a yard gully, or a sewer smell that lingers despite ventilation. In those cases, avoid reaching for chemical drain cleaners again and again: they attack seals and pipework without reaching a blockage further down the run.
Present in Brussels, in Wallonia and in Flanders
42
cities served · drainage
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Cities we serve
Why Van Dijk Home
For kitchen and bathroom outlets, dismantling achieves more than pushing through: the grease leaves the pipe instead of sliding further along. We replace worn seals straight away and test with a full bowl. Up to 2 years warranty on labour; parts carry the manufacturer’s warranty.
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